Seagulls Swoop for Smith

DIVISION 3 champions Brighton and Hove Albion have admitted they are trying to tempt Reading's Neil Smith to the Withdean Stadium.

As exclusively revealed in the Evening Post on Wednesday, Seagulls boss Micky Adams was keen to again link up with the battling midfielder.

Adams was the manager who brought Smith to Fulham in July 1997 shortly before he was replaced by Ray Wilkins.

And he said: "There is no denying it, he (Smith) is a player I'm interested in.

"I have been talking to him and his agent, but it has not gone any further than that at this stage.

"His agent is trying to arrange a package to get him out of Reading. I think he is available on a free and if that is the case then I'm definitely interested."

Smith, whose wife Charlotte gave birth to their first child Florence on Monday, is expected to meet up with Adams some time next week when the Seagulls boss returns from a holiday in Spain.

The 27-year-old midfielder still has a year left on his contract at Reading, but he has been told he is free to leave as he does not figure in Alan Pardew's plans.

He said: "I have spoken to Micky Adams, but at the moment nothing is concrete and anything that could happen is a long way off.

"He knows what I'm about and he has already got Simon Morgan and Dirk Lehmann there who are ex-Fulham and have experience of the Second Division.

"I still think Reading will go up next season, but realistically I don't know if I'll be playing, so from that point of view it could be a good move for me, but we'll have to wait and see what happens.

"They won Division 3 last season and they obviously want to do half decent in the Second, but I've not heard too much as I've been wrapped up with other things with my wife giving birth."

Division 3 Kidderminster are also interested in Smith, but the Third Division outfit would probably not appeal to him.

However, they are also in the chase for Adam Lockwood, who has been told he is free to leave Reading.

Season ticket sales are up 30 per cent on the same date last year.

The club have now sold roughly 3,500 season tickets and are well on course for a record number at Madejski Stadium.

Last season Reading sold about 4,000, but the club are confident they can beat that total.

The ticket office is open until 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 9am-4pm on Saturday.

Discount renewal period for current season ticket holders closes at 4pm Saturday.